Sudan: Al-Dabba market turns into battlefield

Eight people were killed and 16 others, including a woman, were injured in heavy armed clashes inside the popular market in the Sudanese town of Al-Dabba on Wednesday evening.

The town later came under another attack when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelled the electricity substation, causing a fire and injuring one of the facility’s guards.

The Sudan Doctors Network said fighting in a densely populated area was a serious violation of civilians’ rights to life and safety, particularly as women, children and elderly people were present in the market when the clashes broke out.

The network blamed the security authorities for failing to control the spread of weapons, saying the uncontrolled availability of arms had become a daily threat to civilians.

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It also said the attack on the electricity substation, which coincided with the violence in the market, was not a coincidence but part of a systematic campaign to disrupt essential services and destabilise daily life. It warned that the attacks could have severe humanitarian and public service consequences unless urgent action is taken.

The network called on the authorities to launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the market clashes, hold those responsible to account, and strengthen security in markets and residential areas to prevent further violence.

It also urged the Health Ministry to provide immediate medical treatment for the injured, ensure hospitals receive sufficient medicines and medical supplies, and offer psychological and humanitarian support to the families of those killed.

Meanwhile, the Al-Dabba Local Security Committee said the attack on the electricity substation would not deter it from continuing to defend the area, vowing to pursue the RSF until it had been eliminated.

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